touring France in the car - do I need to take insurance
Discussion
I never bothered. But make sure you take your V5, insurance, MOT, etc.
Chances are they'll not ask for it, but if they do, and you don't have it, you're scuppered.
I collected my yacht from the south of France last year, ended up with insurance docs for the yacht, trailer, car, and registration docs for the car and yacht, breakdown cover, etc. Never needed any of it, but glad I had it just in case.
I would want to explain to a Gendarme with my awful French that it's not normal to require these documents at home....
Chances are they'll not ask for it, but if they do, and you don't have it, you're scuppered.
I collected my yacht from the south of France last year, ended up with insurance docs for the yacht, trailer, car, and registration docs for the car and yacht, breakdown cover, etc. Never needed any of it, but glad I had it just in case.
I would want to explain to a Gendarme with my awful French that it's not normal to require these documents at home....
buzzer said:
I have all the car document... including insurance.
the question is, do I take out personal travel insurance? for medical and such..
Get an European Health Insurance Card - it's what the E111 has changed into and is free to UK residents and will ensure that French hospitals will treat you.the question is, do I take out personal travel insurance? for medical and such..
If you don't tkae our travel insurance what happens if someone steals your luggage from your hotel rooms? Your car insurance won't cover that... Of course, you could decide the risk is so small it's not worth the cost of the insurance but assuming you're not going to do any extreme sports, basic travel insurance is cheap.
The European Health Insurance Card does NOT provide free healthcare abroad and it is not a substitute for health insurance.
What it does is provide you the same level of healthcare for accident and illness as residents of the EU country you are visiting. So if they get free healthcare you do too, but if they have to pay for some or all of the care then so do you.
In France if you see a doctor or dentist you will have to pay them. You may then be able to reclaim 70% of the cost later. If you are admitted to hospital you will have to pay 20% of the cost, and so on. It is fairly complex, much easier to have decent health insurance.
What it does is provide you the same level of healthcare for accident and illness as residents of the EU country you are visiting. So if they get free healthcare you do too, but if they have to pay for some or all of the care then so do you.
In France if you see a doctor or dentist you will have to pay them. You may then be able to reclaim 70% of the cost later. If you are admitted to hospital you will have to pay 20% of the cost, and so on. It is fairly complex, much easier to have decent health insurance.
siscar said:
The European Health Insurance Card does NOT provide free healthcare abroad and it is not a substitute for health insurance....
....It is fairly complex, much easier to have decent health insurance.
....It is fairly complex, much easier to have decent health insurance.
+1EHIC does not provide any form of repatriation cover or missed flight/ferry cover etc. Some news item on the TV had a bloke without insurance who broke an ankle - ended up costing £8k once he'd paid for all the hospital and flights etc.
Having had sickly children on holiday which was just a minor infection I would say really, really get insurance - don't risk it.
Ranger 6 said:
SJobson said:
...some only cover the minimum statutory requirement in the relevant country.
That's just third party - so even though they say they give you European Cover you will still need to buy fully comp.ewenm said:
My insurer for the Caterham covers me third party automatically unless I ring them and tell them I'm going, at which point they cover me fully comp (assuming less than 30 days duration) for no extra cost. They just want to be informed that I'm going.
I've heard of others caught out by the whole European 'statutory minimum' insurance thing so I'm always careful to check. Sometimes it's an extra £20 for a weeks comp cover and a green card. Worth it as I did have an accident a few years ago and the 4 of us had to fly back while the car was recovered - I dread to think what that would have cost if I hadn't been covered....
You can tell we've had our fair share of misfortune!
Edited by Ranger 6 on Friday 23 July 14:32
From the Times this week...
Take with you:
• A copy of your vehicle insurance policy, ideally with a statement of cover in french (ask your insurance provider).
• Vehicle registration document (compulsory)
• Valid driver’s license
• If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, carry a letter from the owner giving you permission to drive it.
• European Accident Statement form – if there is not one in your insurance pack, download one from www.insurance.fr/files/Accident_Form.pdf
• EU drivers need to display a country sticker (unless already on your numberplate)
• Kit for adjusting headlights
• Warning triangle and high visibility jacket (both compulsory) and spare bulb kit
Take with you:
• A copy of your vehicle insurance policy, ideally with a statement of cover in french (ask your insurance provider).
• Vehicle registration document (compulsory)
• Valid driver’s license
• If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, carry a letter from the owner giving you permission to drive it.
• European Accident Statement form – if there is not one in your insurance pack, download one from www.insurance.fr/files/Accident_Form.pdf
• EU drivers need to display a country sticker (unless already on your numberplate)
• Kit for adjusting headlights
• Warning triangle and high visibility jacket (both compulsory) and spare bulb kit
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